Specifications:Improving upon one of the most celebrated lenses in the Canon EF line is no easy feat, but Canon has done just that. The all-new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM increases the speed, performance and optical quality of the EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM while maintaining all of the characteristics that have made it a legend for professionals and advanced amateurs alike. The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM features one fluorite and five UD elements for increased optical quality and reduced chromatic aberration. It has a minimum focusing distance of 1.2m/3.9 ft. at all zoom settings, which is useful for photographers in smaller spaces trying to get closer to a subject. It features a next-generation Optical Image Stabilizer, providing up to 4 stops of correction at all focal lengths. And as with all L-series lenses, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM is dust- and moisture-resistant and designed for use in the challenging environments typical of rigorous professional use.

I have had a lot of lenses over my 45 years of photography and this is the best ever. I am just blown away by how good this lens is. The IS is superb. Best by far of any lens I have ever owned. Tack sharp. I have never gotten really sharp images using my 2x teleconverter until this lens. Amazing effort by Canon. I will still keep my f4 version for vacation travel because it is smaller, lighter and pretty darn sharp too (not with the 2x though) I never used the version 1 so I cannot comment on how signifigant the improvements are but this version 2 is one great lens. BTW, I bought this one used on the Buy and Sell forum (3 months old and like new and under warranty) so I did not pay full retail. My wife just commented that she has never seen me so excited about a new lens. She is correct!

Jun 26, 2010

Kenneth LingOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: May 4, 2007Location: CanadaPosts: 0

Review Date: Jun 26, 2010

Recommend? |
Price paid: $2,200.00

Pros:

The best tele zoom....

Cons:

slight fall off wide open

Check this out, look at the bird in full size original.
Taken with 5D mark II

This is the Lord of all zoom lens: Extremely sharp (sharper than my 24L MK2, 85 1.8 and 50 1.4), very nice bokeh, great color, super fast AF, 4-stop IS, and built like a tank.

Cons:

It doesn't zoom in to 10mm and refused to extend to 800mm.....sigh. :)

I use this 70-200 2.8 IS MK2 on my 5D2 at f/2.8 exclusively, stopping down did not improve sharpness whatsoever. AF is very fast, AI servo tracking is a pleasure on this lens. The 4-stop IS work as advertised, very well behave and quiet compare to my 4.0 IS, the viewfinder doesn't jump around as much as with the 70-200 2.8 IS MK1 version either.

Compare to the 70-200 2.8 IS MK1....wait...there simply ain't no comparison, None, whatsoever! MK2 has better background blur due to improved MFD, MK2 has faster AF, more advanced IS (4-stop), and most importantly...it is SIGNIFICANTLY sharper than the MK1 that I had for over 2 years. Overall, my MK2 is twice as good as the MK1 I had, but doesn't cost twice as much, what a deal!

Compare to the feather-weight 70-200 4.0 IS (I had a very sharp copy), the MK2 still managed to best it in sharpness across the entire range, and it takes the 1.4x TC better as well. MK2 also doesn't suffer the MFD @200mm problem like both of my 4.0 IS did.

Bottom line: If you are looking for the best zoom lens money can buy, look no further....this is it! No doubt in my mind Canon got ripped off for selling this lens for only $2499! LOL

Jun 23, 2010

StonoOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Dec 4, 2005Location: NorwayPosts: 1

Review Date: Jun 20, 2010

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,600.00
| Rating: 10

Pros:

IS, extremely sharp for a zoom, high IQ

Cons:

Not any, really

The best zoom I haver ever used. And I have used (and own) a lot, including Canon 70-200 mm F4 IS and Canon 70-200mm f2.8, IS as well as Canon 100-400 mm IS and Canon 16-35mm MkII among others. The new Canon 70-200mm f.2.8 IS MkII is by far the sharpest zoom of them all. Even sharper than quite a few Canon prime lenses. Really impressing! Even sharp (really sharp) when using f2.8. IS is very good too!! - If you try this lens you will not be satisfied with any other 70-200mm! I am not easily impressed having 16 L prime lenses - but this time I really am impressed. Superb zoom lens!

Jun 20, 2010

I SimoniusOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Apr 22, 2005Location: United KingdomPosts: 53

Review Date: Jun 13, 2010

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9

Pros:

IS, resolution

Cons:

price and weight

Was lucky enough to get one of the first batch. Using on the 5D2: If this was lighter and cheaper it would rate a 10 (perfect). i.e. the only things holding it back from being a perfect lens are the price and weight.

IS is very impressive, better than IS on any other lens Iv'e used, with CARE one can HH at very slow speeds and pixel peeping confirms.

Resolution is as good as any other lens in same FLs and better than many. Apart from the obvious fact that it's f2.8 in practice is as good as the 135L, or the 85L at same f-stops, which is saying something. It is certainly better at the long end than the 70-200L f4 IS that I had.

DPreview pretty much hits the nail on the head, and as you can see all the reviews here are (so far) very positive)

In time one can get over the price but the weight is another matter, I really notice this lens after carrying it about all day. Canon has sussed IS, all we need from them now is anti-grav (AG?)

And it really becomes apparent when you mate this lens with the 1.4 teleconverter and the 2.0. One word to describe the result: WOW.

Canon, you pulled this one through with jaw dropping amazement. And this was after I read reviews on how well it performs! I was still amazed. I would say more, but I would be repeating what all the other reviewers before me have pointed out.

10/10 Canon. Thanks for a truly remarkable and versatile lens in this zoom range.

I own 3 versions of Canon 70-200mm lens: 2.8L IS mk1, F4 IS and now mk 2. So far all I could say is bravo for Canon, finally I could see best zoom in any respect in my hands! Canon retouched every part and curve of this lens, lots of improvements in IQ and IS. I am normally primes shooter, however if Canon will release more of zooms this level I will get rid of most of mine primes. My score is 10 and no point less, great product and highly recommended to anyone shooting with Canon.

Jun 2, 2010

Kenneth LingOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: May 4, 2007Location: CanadaPosts: 0

Review Date: May 31, 2010

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10

Pros:

very very Sharp, focus extremely fast, nice hood.

Cons:

none.

If you have the money just buy it, I have both 2.8 IS version I and II, it is so much sharper than the version one especially in close range from 70mm-135mm. If you need the best IQ, this is it!

I've used my the 70-200 2.8L non-IS for the past 5 years on my crop sensored Canons and have had loved the images I've captured with it. At times I considered getting the IS version of the lens but just couldn't justify the extra $$ to get IS (the IQ difference between the two is minimal with the edge going to the non-IS imho).

When this lens came out and after reading the reviews (professional and non) I decided to make the leap. I sold my old lens and picked this one up. The AF is very fast and accurate (I can't tell a difference from my 135L) and the IS is amazing (it seems like it is much better than my 70-300 IS and I am able to get sharp images at 200mm, 1/60 that I couldn't do without a monopod on my old 2.8L).

The images I've taken are very sharp and the lens has a warm cast to them. I've only had the lens for three weeks and I'm looking forward to using the lens on my trip to Scandanavia next month.

May 20, 2010

slee915OfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Jan 4, 2006Location: United StatesPosts: 429

Review Date: May 3, 2010

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $2,499.00
| Rating: 10

Pros:

fast AF, bokeh, IS, sharpness

Cons:

None

Super fast AF, the 4-stop IS works as advertized. The lens is very sharp, works great with 1.4x TC. Absolutely no complaint, worth the full price.

May 3, 2010

XanuFotoOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: May 3, 2010Location: CanadaPosts: 0

Review Date: May 3, 2010

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10

Pros:

Extremely well made, sharp, incredible IS

Cons:

None. Bit heavy but I will stop doing weights and just carry this around. LOL

I planned to buy the Canon f2.8 IS at the beginning of the year. Canon then released the MK 2 and I waited until the price and initial reviews came out. The price was a shock as it was 25% higher than the MK1. But I decided to go ahead with the MK2 as the reviews were consistantly solid. And the reviews were spot on.

I have had the lens for a week and just love it. Would definitely recommend to anybody.

May 3, 2010

allanbadenOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Apr 5, 2006Location: DenmarkPosts: 0

Review Date: Apr 29, 2010

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10

Pros:

Sharp, Quick AF, Build quality, New IS, Lens hood system

Cons:

None

I have been using the old 70-200 2.8 for some years so the upgrade was very welcome.

THe new lens is better in all aspects. Amazing picture quality and much sharper than the old one. The AF and tracking is just as good and quick as my primes (135mm 2.0, 85mm, 1.8) and its just amazing to work with it. The new IS is so silent and effective. The build quality is very very good and the new lens hood system is very nice compared to the other hoods on my Canon lenses.

Although very pricey its worth every penny. Cant believe how much Canon have emprooved this lens compared to the old Mark I version.

Weight and Girth - what do you expect?
High price - but you get what you pay for...

I have owned the lens for about a week. Spent some time setting up micro AF with my body. Now the lens is accurate like a rifle. You put that focus point somwhere, you get super fast quiet focusing that is tack sharp!! Even at f/2.8 it is prime level sharp. I did a comparison with my 135L both being set at f/2.8 and the zoom was noticably sharper eventhough the prime had the advantage of being closed one stop! Of course the prime still has the advantge of being lighter and faster but that is an incredible achievement for a zoom! Color rendering was also a notch above the prime.

The IS is top notch and allows handheld shots 200mm shots at 1/30! It spins up quickly and is also very quiet. Construction is top notch but of course that is to be expected. Its big, heavy, and expensive which is also expected. LOL! What I did not expect was this tremendous performance which can quite frankly put some L primes in the shade. It seems crazy to suggest but I feel the lens easily justifies the price and shows what current state-of-the art is in zoom technology.

I traded in my 70-200mm 2.8 is mark i for this lens. For field use (I mainly take pictures of animals and events), it is extraordinary.

Yes, 85mm 1.2 and 135mm 2.0 are much sharper and optically outstanding, but the slow AF of 85mm 1.2 and a bit inaccurate AF of 135mm 2.0 make these lenses a bit frustrating to use when you are pressured by time.

70-200mm IS, fast and accurate AF makes the lens outstanding. The pictures are sharp and I took some photos that I cannot take with my primes in low light due to lack of AF/IS abilities.

Picture quality, contrast, and sharpness due to these improvements make it much better than the 70-200mm 2.8 is mk i. I thought the pictures on the mk i lens were a bit lackluster compared to the primes. But the mk ii justifies using a zoomed lens vs. my primes- at least for action photos.

Definitely, with portraits and extreme low light situations, my 135mm and 85mm are still handy (f/2.8 just doesn't cut it).

The price is... not sure if it is justified. In my field, I now use this lens and the 35mm 1.4L (still one of the best lens IMO).

When this was first announced I was very hesitant because of the price. I decided it was out of my budget. But the more I read about it and seeing sample images taken by others, my interest in this lens began to increase until this past week when I decide to sell my 70-200 2.8 non-IS and try it out.

Boy, was I glad I did!! This is one fantastic lens! Yes, a little pricey but after seeing what it can do, the price tag is long forgotten.

Images are as sharp as I've seen from any zoom (and some "L" primes), wide open @ 2.8. Color and contrast are second to none. Focus just "snaps" and is dead accurate. The redesigned IS is so quiet you may not even realize it is on.